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A man was forced to strangle his own rescue dog as the pet savagely attacked him for 45 minutes, leaving him fearing for his life. Matt Porter has been left without the use of one hand following the brutal incident.
While shaving, Matt's Staffy named Karma suddenly attacked him. The 34 year old suffered more than 70 bites on both arms and was terrified he'd bleed out after losing function in his hands. In a desperate act of self-preservation, he had to choke the dog with his forearms until she stopped breathing.
Before collapsing from blood loss, he managed to call his mother for assistance. Recounting the nightmare, Matt said: "Karma jumped on me, I pushed her off, she came back and bit right into my arm. There was blood spraying everywhere. It was terrifying. I don't know what was wrong with her.
He suffered massive blood loss
"She didn't stop and she was chewing on my arm for 45 minutes. I was in agonising pain. I grabbed her by her neck and tried to talk to her and calm her. I told her she was hurting me and to stop but she wouldn't.
"She was trying to go for my neck and I couldn't get a grip on my feet because of all the blood. I was bleeding to death and I didn't want to die so even though I'd lost the use of my hands, I used sheer willpower and choked her to death with my forearms.", reports Bristol Live.
"There was no other option. I passed out in a puddle of blood that was around seven foot wide and woke up in hospital."
Matt's life took a harrowing turn after a brutal dog attack last month left him with both arms mangled, requiring three reconstructive surgeries and a week-long hospital stay. The damage was so severe he lost function in his right hand and had to give up his gig as a tree surgeon.
His family's rallying support with a fundraiser to keep him afloat during his recovery. Matt recounted the horror: "The dog ate so much muscle that you could see the bone and tendons. Surgeons had to put my muscle put back in. I won't be able to go back to work, I'm still in pain and my arms look disgusting. Everything is a struggle.
"My fingers don't work so I can't do my shoes up, I can't write or make food and it's very frustrating. I sleep one hour a night and I have vivid nightmares."
The dog, named Karma, was taken in by Matt four months prior, after being found starving behind a shop. Following a tough breakup, his family suggested adopting the pooch for emotional support. Despite nursing her back to health, Matt noticed early signs of aggression.
Reflecting on the decision to adopt Karma, Matt said: "My fiancé left me a few months earlier so my mum thought it would be a good idea for me to get an animal to help me get through things. Karma was so thin that you could see her ribs so I fed her up until she was four stone.
"She was so sweet and caring. She was there for me and never left my side but there were signs of aggression. I noticed a few times that if I tried to grab her by the collar to take her outside, she would try and bite me. I just thought she didn't like it and I didn't think that much of it.
"She would jump on my body and leave scars but it didn't bother me."
Matt, hailing from Illinois, had his beloved Karma cremated and now keeps her ashes close by at home. He shared: "I love her and I just feel like she had a bad day. I don't hold it against her."
According to Porter, Matt, 35, had taken extensive measures to care for Karma, ensuring she was up to date on her vaccinations and providing a loving home. However, on the day of the attack, Porter described the situation as shocking and unprovoked, stating that “Karma just switched and started attacking him.”
Matt, who is currently recovering at SLU Hospital, described the encounter as a “fight for his life.” He emphasized the unexpected nature of the attack, saying it caught him off-guard. The emergency crew reported that he had lost a significant amount of blood, attributing his survival to the adrenaline coursing through his body during the ordeal.
At present, Matt is undergoing multiple surgeries, with two surgeons working on his arms, which are crucial for his profession as a tree cutter and climber. Porter noted the gravity of the situation, highlighting that he will require substantial assistance during his recovery.
The GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover medical expenses and support Matt during this challenging time. Donations are being accepted to aid in his recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
To donate, click on the GoFundMe here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-matt-recover-from-dog-attack-injuries
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Matt Porter, 34, was savaged by his Staffy, Karma, as he was shaving at his home, when she bit him more than 70 times in total as he struggled to defend himself
Matt Porter rescued his dog Karma months before the attack(Image: Jam Press)A man was forced to strangle his own rescue dog as the pet savagely attacked him for 45 minutes, leaving him fearing for his life. Matt Porter has been left without the use of one hand following the brutal incident.
While shaving, Matt's Staffy named Karma suddenly attacked him. The 34 year old suffered more than 70 bites on both arms and was terrified he'd bleed out after losing function in his hands. In a desperate act of self-preservation, he had to choke the dog with his forearms until she stopped breathing.
Before collapsing from blood loss, he managed to call his mother for assistance. Recounting the nightmare, Matt said: "Karma jumped on me, I pushed her off, she came back and bit right into my arm. There was blood spraying everywhere. It was terrifying. I don't know what was wrong with her.
He suffered massive blood loss
"She didn't stop and she was chewing on my arm for 45 minutes. I was in agonising pain. I grabbed her by her neck and tried to talk to her and calm her. I told her she was hurting me and to stop but she wouldn't.
"She was trying to go for my neck and I couldn't get a grip on my feet because of all the blood. I was bleeding to death and I didn't want to die so even though I'd lost the use of my hands, I used sheer willpower and choked her to death with my forearms.", reports Bristol Live.
"There was no other option. I passed out in a puddle of blood that was around seven foot wide and woke up in hospital."
Matt's life took a harrowing turn after a brutal dog attack last month left him with both arms mangled, requiring three reconstructive surgeries and a week-long hospital stay. The damage was so severe he lost function in his right hand and had to give up his gig as a tree surgeon.
His family's rallying support with a fundraiser to keep him afloat during his recovery. Matt recounted the horror: "The dog ate so much muscle that you could see the bone and tendons. Surgeons had to put my muscle put back in. I won't be able to go back to work, I'm still in pain and my arms look disgusting. Everything is a struggle.
"My fingers don't work so I can't do my shoes up, I can't write or make food and it's very frustrating. I sleep one hour a night and I have vivid nightmares."
The dog, named Karma, was taken in by Matt four months prior, after being found starving behind a shop. Following a tough breakup, his family suggested adopting the pooch for emotional support. Despite nursing her back to health, Matt noticed early signs of aggression.
Reflecting on the decision to adopt Karma, Matt said: "My fiancé left me a few months earlier so my mum thought it would be a good idea for me to get an animal to help me get through things. Karma was so thin that you could see her ribs so I fed her up until she was four stone.
"She was so sweet and caring. She was there for me and never left my side but there were signs of aggression. I noticed a few times that if I tried to grab her by the collar to take her outside, she would try and bite me. I just thought she didn't like it and I didn't think that much of it.
"She would jump on my body and leave scars but it didn't bother me."
Matt, hailing from Illinois, had his beloved Karma cremated and now keeps her ashes close by at home. He shared: "I love her and I just feel like she had a bad day. I don't hold it against her."
Amber Porter Seeks Community Support For Brother's Recovery After Dog Attack
GRANITE CITY - Amber Porter is spearheading a fundraiser to support her brother, Matt, who was severely injured in a dog attack at his home on Feb. 19, 2025. The incident involved Karma, a pit bull that Matt had rescued eight months prior from an abusive environment.According to Porter, Matt, 35, had taken extensive measures to care for Karma, ensuring she was up to date on her vaccinations and providing a loving home. However, on the day of the attack, Porter described the situation as shocking and unprovoked, stating that “Karma just switched and started attacking him.”
Matt, who is currently recovering at SLU Hospital, described the encounter as a “fight for his life.” He emphasized the unexpected nature of the attack, saying it caught him off-guard. The emergency crew reported that he had lost a significant amount of blood, attributing his survival to the adrenaline coursing through his body during the ordeal.
At present, Matt is undergoing multiple surgeries, with two surgeons working on his arms, which are crucial for his profession as a tree cutter and climber. Porter noted the gravity of the situation, highlighting that he will require substantial assistance during his recovery.
The GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover medical expenses and support Matt during this challenging time. Donations are being accepted to aid in his recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
To donate, click on the GoFundMe here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-matt-recover-from-dog-attack-injuries
